Civil War Quilt-A-Long

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Welcome to the Quilt Qwazy Queens blog Hop! My friends and I, with the great organization skills of Marian, Seams To Be Sew are celebrating International Quilt Day, and what better way then by participating in this blog hop!

Unfortunately today is the last day. You can win great prizes by simply visiting the blogs posted today and leaving a comment! Then do the Rafflecopter at: Marian at Seams to be sew

Thank you Marian for working so hard finding such wonderful sponsor and for working so hard in getting this all together. And for inviting me to join you.

I started quilting about 11 years ago. I am Pennsylvania Dutch. I had 10 aunts on my dad's side and 7 on my mother's side. No one in my family quilted, (my mother didn't even mend. She gave our mending to my one aunt.) I did learn to embroder and crochet from one of my aunts when I was in school.
Amyway, I grew up around Amish and Mennonites and always admired their quilts. I always wanted to try to make one. Well, with working, raising a family, etc. I just couldn't find the time. I did learn to sew and made dresses, blouses, curtains, etc. It was when I retired and moved to VA that I made my first quilt.

I bought 1/2 yard of assorted fabrics that matched, a magazine, ruler, and a rotor cutter. I thought I had all I needed. When I look at what I have now, I just laugh.

I read a lot of books and magazines. I learned to look at a pattern or block and be able to make my pattern.

Then I started designing my own quilts. I enjoy making these the most. Nothing like drawing, designing and making them come to life.

I also love doing appliqué. I always liked drawing, so now I have a reason.

I also like to think out-of-the-box and do my own thing. The wallhanging below has 147 pieces to it. It is 16" X 21".

Then I did a few picture quilts....they are fun.

Oh, and T-Shirt quilts,

Then I learned Paper Piecing. That is a lot if fun, a lot slower but the blocks always turn out perfect.

Then I tried a Bargello quilt.

For the first 8 years I did all hand quilting. Then my Husband bought me a Handy Quilter Avante (which I love)

I am giving away a fat quarter bundle from Timeless Treasures. Open to everyone, just leave me a comment.

I hope you stick around and browse my posts. Have a great day! Don't forget to go over to Marian's to enter the other giveaways. For mine, I'll be using a random number generator to pick my winner on Monday, March 28th. So be sure to leave me a comment and make sure I get your email l address which I will share withMarian @ Seams to be Sew
who will email you the information to redeem your prize.

As an added Bonus, Fat Quarter Shop is offering 10% off discount during this blog hop.

It will contunue through this weekend. Just enter in the following code: seamstobe316(can be not used with gift certificates)

Saturday, March 12, 2016

That was the program at our Guild meeting this week. Each person was to bring in their first quilt they made (or what inspired them to quilt) and share their story.

Ah, what great stories we heard and what fun we all had reminiscing on the past. While some of us had no one in their family that quilted, but always admired them. But with family, work, etc. they waited till they retired to start. While others grew up with grandmother's and mother's that quilted and quilted with them all their lives.

Here are some of the quilts they brought in:

Linda Arant brought in a piece of her grandmother's quilt. She said there was not much left because of so much wear and tear. So a piece of it was framed. She also brought in a picture of her grandmother with her favorite poem.

Then Nancy Bigg, (our Vice President) brought in a stool which she had made:

She also shared this quilt she had made with a "Block of the Month club"

I must share one more with you. This past December we elected a new president. So each of us made a block and gave it to the president leaving office. She made this quilt out of all the blocks. (Check out the magnificent quilting she did)

I hope that you enjoyed seeing all the different quilts and I did not bore you too much.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

I want to appoligize for not posting for so long. A lot has been happening here at our house. Including a lot of distractions. My husband is putting an addition onto the back of our house for my long arm quilter. (I am so excited.)

It will also have a well needed second bathroom in it.

Unfortunately, my husband had to have arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder. They had to re-attach his Rotor Cuff, mend his muscle and attach it with some screws, and scrape arthritis off the bone. So he will be out of commission for quite a while. :( I feel so bad or him. He was never one to sit around. I am just so glad he is doing better and will be free of pain when he heals. I know he will finish when he is better. He has all kind of ideas for me.

Meanwhile I have been making flannel quilts for Christmas presents. (Will share them all come December for I don't want to spoil the suprise for anyone.)

I got a challenge though a few weeks back. A woman that lives down the road from us called and wanted to know if I could make her granddaughter a T-Shirt quilt for her graduation. I said sure and she brought them to me.

Unfortunately, she cut some of the shirts to just the logo. I explained that the shirts she cut were of different sizes and one of them was cut too close to the logo and the seam will hide some of it. She understood and said to do what I could. I studied this for a long time. She did not want sashing. So after quite a bit of thought, I cut the rest of the shirts and came up with this...

I made 3 rows that were 15 inches wide and one row 12 inches wide. I squared her cut shirts and also used some of the smaller logo's on the front of the shirts as filler, smaller blocks. Then I took the scraps (backing of shirts) and made a 3 inch boarder.

She wanted an all over stipple pattern and not sew over the logos on the shirts, except for the ones that were too large. I put a little stitching in those so they would not puff up.

Here it is, finished:

I also added a small logo that was on a pocket of one shirt, to the bottom corner boarder.

She had one T-Shirt that had hand prints on. I did not have the heart to cut into any of the hands. So I incorporated that shirt to the back. It was put more to the one side than centered. I learned her granddaughter wants some of her friends to sign it.

The back:

This morning I put the label on and called her to tell her it was finished.

She was all excited and said she would be right over.

This is the time I get nervous. I am always afraid that the person who I make a quilt for will not like it.

AHH, but she did! Now she said she has a problem and that was keeping it from her granddaughter until graduation.

Christmas in my Heart

Meet and Greet Stitches from around the world

Bird Tree

Have a Latte

Tammy 4 all Seasons

We Support You

Black Cat Crossing

T'was the Night

About Me

I am a retired Hershey worker that is happily married. My husband and I moved to TN from PA to relax and enjoy life. I have three grown children and three active grandsons. I am a quilt designer, my passion is to draw quilt patterns and make them. From large quilts down to small wall hangings. I have a cat, KC, that is with me in my quilt room while I create, she keeps me on my toes. We also have a beautiful well trained Shepard. I enjoy my flowers, gardening, although I cannot be outside much. I love going with my husband to Flea Markets, Antiquing, Fishing, Drives in the Country, etc.